* The "Daily Encouragement" is a bit long today but we hope you can spare the extra 2 or 3 minutes to read what is a very important message!
A translation of "To My Friends" published in the Seikyo Newspaper based on President Ikeda's recent guidance, and more.
Tuesday, October 5th, 2021
-- TO MY FRIENDS --
The outcome of "a battle"
is determined
by the degree of our momentum!
This is the ironclad rule
of victory.
The Daishonin encourages us,
"You must simply
make up your mind."*
Let's bravely and vigorously strive
to ascend the mountain
of kosen-rufu
that we ourselves
made a vow to scale!
* WND-l page 829
Tuesday, October 5th, 2021
--- DAILY GOSHO ---
"Everything depends on the particular country and the particular time. In dealing with the Buddhist teachings, one must understand this principle."
("Teachings Depend on the Time and the Country,"
WND-2 page 966)
Selection Source:
Ikeda Sensei's Essay
Seikyo Newspaper: Oct. 5th, 2021
Wednesday, October 6th, 2021
---- DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT ----
"'[The "Expedient Means" (2nd) chapter of the Lotus Sutra] states, "If there are those who hear the Law, then not a one will fail to attain Buddhahood" [LSOC2, 75]. This passage means that, if there are a hundred or a thousand people who uphold this sutra, without a single exception all one hundred or one thousand of them will become Buddhas. (WND-1, 1099; 'Wu-lung and I-lung')"*
"This section is from a letter titled 'Wu-lung and I-lung' addressed to the lay nun Ueno, the mother of Nanjo Tokimitsu. In it, the Daishonin quotes a passage from the 'Expedient Means' chapter of the Lotus Sutra: 'If there are those who hear the Law, then not a one will fail to attain Buddhahood" (LSOC2, 75).
"These words are a powerful expression of the Buddha's original vow to enable all living beings to attain Buddhahood. The Daishonin also cites them as important documentary proof confirming that the Lotus Sutra is the great teaching of universal enlightenment.
"The lay nun Ueno was grieving deeply over the sudden death of her beloved youngest son. In this letter and several others, the Daishonin quotes the above Lotus Sutra passage to encourage her.
"He also shares these words in a letter to the lay nun Myoichi, who persevered in her Buddhist practice throughout oppression of the Daishonin's followers and the loss of her husband. They appear immediately after he encourages her with the famous words 'winter always turns to spring' (WND-1, 536).**
"The Daishonin again cites this passage in a letter to the lay nun Sennichi after the death of her husband, assuring her that 'all people who hear the [Lotus Sutra] will, without a single exception, attain Buddhahood' (WND–1, 1042).
"'Not a one will fail to attain Buddhahood'—this focus on the happiness of each individual is the heart of the Lotus Sutra. The fact that the Daishonin offered these words to many of his disciples who were struggling with adversity illustrates his deep compassion and resolve to lift their spirits and prevent them from becoming unhappy."
The Buddhism of the Sun—Illuminating the World, [67] Our Shared Struggle as Bodhisattvas of the Earth Is a Source of Hope for Transforming This Troubled Age - Not a One Will Fail to Attain Buddhahood, November 2020 issue of Daibyakurenge, the Soka Gakkai monthly study journal, translation released July 2021
* This letter was written at Minobu on November 15th, 1281, and addressed to the lay nun Ueno.
** In "Winter Always Turns to Spring," the Daishonin writes: "Those who believe in the Lotus Sutra are as if in winter, but winter always turns to spring. Never, from ancient times on, has anyone seen or heard of winter turning back to autumn. Nor have we ever heard of a believer in the Lotus Sutra who turned into an ordinary person. The sutra reads, 'If there are those who hear the Law, then not a one will fail to attain Buddhahood' [LSOC2, 75]"(WND–1, 536).
The Japanese kanji is available by clicking on Seikyo Shinbun's
http://www.seikyoonline.com/news/wagatomo/
-- WAGA TOMO NI OKURU --
http://www.seikyoonline.com/news/wagatomo/
-- WAGA TOMO NI OKURU --
TATAKAI WA IKIOI DE KIMARU!
KOREGA SHŌBU NO TESSOKUDA.
"TADA HITOENI OMOIKIRU BESHI"
MIZUKARA CHIKAISHI KOFU NO MINE E
DŌDŌ TARU YŪMYŌ-SHŌJIN O!
--- KYO NO GOSHO ---
"ISSAI NO KOTO WA KUNI NI YORI TOKI NI YORU KOTO NARI, BUPPŌ WA KONO DŌRI O WAKIMAU BEKI NITE SŌRŌ"
("UENO DONO GOHENJI", Gosho Zenshu page 1579)
-- Please let us know if you see any mistakes or have any questions!
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particularly if you want us to add someone!
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